Booker on Christie: We Have 'Policy Differences'

Newark Mayor Cory Booker — in the midst of mulling a gubernatorial run in a bid to oust Chris Christie — turned up the heat this week as he called New Jersey’s top politician his “good friend,’’ but said the pair have “policy differences,’’ reports the Washington Post.

“There are definite areas where I disagree with the governor, and that’s what I’m considering right now: Is it worthy of a run,” Booker told Jon Stewart during an appearance on “The Daily Show.’’

Elaborating on those differences, the Democratic mayor said he disagreed with Republican Christie’s decision to cut an earned income tax credit.

He said he also differed with Christie on the importance of investing in the Garden State’s infrastructure, telling Stewart, “New Jersey has a problem with its Transportation Trust Fund.’’

Last year, Christie proposed a renewal of the fund, paying for it by issuing $4 billion in new debt and using $3.1 billion in Port Authority and New Jersey Turnpike money slated for a cancelled rail tunnel. The proposal was slammed by Democrats who said it would hit the state with more debt.

While Booker has said it will be a few more weeks before he decides whether to throw his hat in the ring against Christie, one declaration certainly made him sound like a man running for office.

“Our best days are not behind us if we start working together for what we know is right,” Booker told Stewart.

Stewart jokingly referred to Booker as “the superhero mayor of Newark. You pull babies out of burning buildings, you have reversed the rotation of the earth to save Lois Lane. How does this happen to you? Do you patrol at night?’’

Newark Mayor Cory Booker in the midst of mulling a gubernatorial run in a bid to oust Chris Christie turned up the heat this week as he called New Jersey's top politician his good friend, but said the pair have policy differences.